Repair of Prolapsed Vagina (Anterior)

An anterior prolapsed vagina occurs when your bladder drops down, causing a bulge that restricts the vaginal passage.  Your bladder may drop if the support tissue that runs between the vagina and bladder becomes weak.  You may notice an anterior prolapse by a sensation of ‘something coming down’ in the groin area, the need to pass urine more often than usual, or the feeling of not being able to completely empty your bladder.  You may also experience discomfort during sex or have difficulty keeping a tampon in.  

Causes of a Prolapsed Vagina

A common cause of an anterior prolapsed vagina is childbirth.  However, the condition can arise for women who have never had children.

There are various types of prolapse and it is possible to have more than one at the same time.  The support tissues of your womb (uterus) or rectum may also be weak.  If your condition is mild, your doctor is likely to recommend non-surgical treatments.  Pelvic-floor exercises may be beneficial or a pessary may need to be inserted.

The Procedure

The anterior prolapse repair procedure is a surgical operation that takes roughly 30 minutes and is performed under general anaesthetic.  Your Consultant will make a cut on the front (anterior) wall of your vagina so they can push your bladder and urethra back into place.  Your doctor will stitch the support tissues together to provide better support for your bladder and urethra.  They will cut away a small part of your vaginal wall to remove tissue left over from the repair.  After undergoing surgery you should expect slight discharge or bleeding from the vagina.  If this becomes heavy consult your medical team for advice.

Patients who undergo prolapsed vagina repair procedure should be able to return home after two to three days.  Your Consultant will recommend resting for at least two weeks and our Physiotherapy team will give you some exercises to perform in the meantime.  Do not have sex for 6 weeks or until bleeding or discharge has stopped.

Post-Operative Recovery

It is not recommended that you stand up for too long during recovery or that you lift heavy objects.  You may return to work once your Consultant has said that you are well enough to do so, usually after 6 to 8 weeks.  Regular exercise will help you return to normal activities as quickly as possible, but before beginning, consult your medical team for advice.

Continue your pelvic-floor exercises as soon as possible and keep doing them for life.  This will help to prevent the prolapse from coming back and reduce the risk of you becoming incontinent.

Need Help?

At One Healthcare we can book you in to see a specialist Gynaecology surgeon, usually within 48 hours, for an initial consultation. Anterior prolapsed vagina repair is available at One Ashford Hospital in Kent and One Hatfield Hospital in Hertfordshire.  Both hospitals also provide posterior vagina repair

You can use your private medical insurance or pay for your Repair of Prolapsed Vagina (Anterior) treatment. We offer competitive, fixed price packages as well as the ability to spread the cost of your treatment over a number of months. If you are using your health insurance, please contact your insurer first for approval and let them know you’d like to be treated at either the One Ashford Hospital or One Hatfield Hospital.

Why One Healthcare

• Modern purpose-built hospital opened in March 2016 (Ashford) December 2017 (Hatfield)
• Fast access to diagnostics including MRI, X-ray and Ultrasound
• Private, spacious, en-suite rooms
• Specialist Physiotherapy and nursing teams
• Little or no waiting time
• ‘Ultra clean air’ theatres
• Freshly prepared food
• Calm, dignified experience

Contact us and find out more

If you live in and around the Kent area and would like to visit our One Ashford Hospital please click here

If you are based in and around Hertfordshire and would like to visit the One Hatfield Hospital please click here.